N-GEN Communications Web-based Seminars ©NGCS

Seminar - An Overview of Communications Technologies

Module 1 - An Overview of the Communications Industry                                                              Slide 20 of 26  _________________                                                                                  __________

                                             Wireless Technologies

                                               1st Generation

                                               2nd Generation 

                                               3rd Generation

                                               4th Generation 

_________________                                                                                  __________

Wireless technologies have evolved from mobile radio for voice in analogue format to broadband wireless capable of transmitting voice, data and video services. Recently Wireless LAN technology, 802.11 (a, b and g) has made in roads into the local Area Networks enterprise market capable of transmitting in 50 M bps range.

The 1st generation mobile system, Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS)  was introduced in 1983. AMPS, an analogue system, used two channels for a  voice conversation with 30 K HZ frequency channels. Each AMPS cell was capable of carrying 333 - 416 channels. 

The 2nd generation systems were digital in nature. The Personal Communications System ( for Personal Communications Services) in North America and the Global System For Mobile (GSM) in Europe are the examples of the 2nd generation systems. These systems supported voice, data, Fax and text messaging.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) defined the 3rd generation standard called Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UTMS). Japanese Association of Radio Industries and Business (ARIB) defined the Japanese Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunications Service (J-FPLMTS). The North American standard for 3rd generation systems is developed by the Telecommunications Industry Association. The 3rd generation systems will support broadband wireless services such as Full Motion Video, Video Conferencing and T-1 + access to the Internet services.

4th generation systems will be entirely packet-switched, carrying higher bandwidths to provide multi-media services. The applications for these systems are the Virtual Navigation of vehicles in a large metropolis, Emergency rescue, Tele-medicine, Rural disaster  management and Education via the Internet. 

                                               
                                                   Wireless System